NEW HOME FOR THE HAVEN HUB
Marian Hall in Mitchelstown is the new venue for The Haven Hub in the town, and the site on Convent Hill is most familiar to locals as the base for the Citizens Information Centre.
The Haven Hub, a peer support and suicide prevention service, has been operating out of Marian Hall since early April. From 7pm until 11pm on Saturday nights, volunteers are available both in-person and on the phone for a chat and emotional support.
Marian Hall is the home of the Citizens Information Service. The office has been closed to the public since March 2020, when it shut its doors in alignment with national Covid restrictions. Citizens Information clients are currently being accommodated by phone and email, and by appointment where necessary in the offices in Fermoy and Mallow.
The Haven Hub is a notfor-profit organisation with its Mitchelstown office opening in December last year. Initially operating out of Forrest Hall on Saturday nights, it has now moved location but offers the same supportive service. The service in Mitchelstown is one of four nationally; the others are based in Limerick city, Waterford city and Ennis in County Clare.
Leona O’Callaghan, founder of The Haven Hub in Limerick, said the new premises and the continuing service was a result of community support. Volunteers are local and wellversed in the services that are available in the locality too, including those dealing with addiction, bereavement or suffering from loneliness.
“The community really got behind it. We had donations, including those from Cork Mental Health and the Credit Union in town.”
“When someone comes to us, the volunteers will sit with them, hear their story, and match them up with the services they need. When someone is distressed, it can be hard to see the different options and know what services are available. All our volunteers are trained in suicide prevention too, and can help someone to keep themselves safe.”
All volunteers with The Haven Hub are trained and Garda vetted. They are currently looking for more volunteers to join the team, and those interested are asked to contact the Haven Hub at the contact details provided below.
The Haven Hub, as well as offering a support service will be holding courses for the local community too. They have recently completed a two day WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Planning ) course in the Firgrove Hotel, and have future plans to hold ‘Decider Skills’ courses (which are distress tolerance and emotion regulation skills) and QPR Suicide Prevention training to help people in the community respond appropriately to a person that may be at risk of suicide. They will also offer Mental Health First Aid Training.
For support or information on classes offered by The Haven Hub, people are asked to contact them at mitchelstownhavenhub@gmail.com.
The Haven Hub operates from 7pm - 11pm in person at Marian Hall, or by phone at 089 2618815.
For support at any time, the following numbers may be of assistance: You can text HELLO to 50808, an anonymous support service; The Samaritans can by contacted on 116 123 or by e-mailing jo@ samaritans.ie; Pieta House can be contacted on 1800 247 247 or can be contacted by texting HELP to 51444.